The United Nations general assembly voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to
recognise Palestine as a state, in the face of opposition from Israel and
the US.

The 193-member assembly voted 138 in favour of the plan, with only nine
against and 41 abstentions. The scale of the defeat represented a strong and
public repudiation for Israel and the US, who find themselves out of step
with the rest of the world.

Thursday's vote marked a diplomatic breakthrough for Palestinian president
Mahmoud Abbas and could help his standing after weeks in which he has been
sidelined by Palestinian rivals Hamas in the Gaza conflict. . . .